Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple
Last updated 2026-10-30
By Global Travel Guide Editorial Team
Introduction
The complex was built and enlarged over about 2,000 years, with each pharaoh adding halls and obelisks. The Hypostyle Hall's 134 columns are the main sight; the ram-headed sphinxes line the approach, and the sacred lake sits behind the main temple. It is about 3 km from Luxor Temple, and the two are often visited together. Go at opening for cooler weather and fewer groups; the sound-and-light show runs in the evening.
Ticket Price
Foreign adult EGP 600 (≈ USD 11), including the Open-Air Museum; students EGP 300. Open 6:00-17:00.
Opening Hours
Daily 6:00-17:00; last entry 16:00.
Transportation
About 10 minutes by taxi from Luxor Temple; local minibuses also run to Karnak.
Best Season
In Egypt, the best time to visit Karnak Temple is Nov-Mar; May-Sep is extremely hot.
Pro Tip: Enter at opening with a guide
Local Tips You'd Only Learn After Visiting
The details official guides skip — save time, avoid crowds, and get better photos.
1
Enter at opening with a guide Karnak is vast and the signage is limited. Start early, hire a licensed guide, and see the hypostyle hall before the heat and crowds build.
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Frequently Asked Questions3 questions
The Great Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, some 21 m high, and covers about 5,000 square metres. It was built mainly under Seti I and Ramesses II.
Each pharaoh added temples, pylons and obelisks to the complex over about 2,000 years, so it reads as a layered record of Egyptian history. The sacred lake and the avenue of sphinxes are part of the site.
At opening around 6:00, when the light is soft and tour buses have not arrived. Midday is very hot with little shade.